Instrument support



May 22, 1956 M. H. BISHARAT INSTRUMENT SUPPORT Filed NOV.

United States Patent O INSTRUMENT SUPPORT Maurice H. Bisharat, Torrington, Conn. Application November 19, 1952, Serial No. 321,335 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-280) This invention relates to a means for supporting a violin or other stringed instrument, which enables an instrumentalist to hold the instrument with ease and lack of pain and discomfort. This is accomplished by employing the principle of balance between the chin and terminal points of my structure on a fulcrum located by the structure over the body of the player, which maintains the instrument and the structure out of contact with the collar bone.

Holding of the instrument in a playing position is thus facilitated and enables the maximum amount of relaxation of the arm, shoulder and neck muscles to be achieved, which permits substantially total and prolonged independence of the left hand from the burden of holding up the violin during the performance, a freedom which is valuable in the playing of such passages as require slides and the use of vibrato. The use of my invention, due to the principle of its construction, eliminates the collar bone as a place of contact between the instrument and the body, and further eliminates the possibility of the instrument slipping laterally toward the players chest. My structure is so adjustable that it may be fitted to the desired position on persons of any physical structure, having the advantage of being almost universally adaptable.

The object of my invention is to produce an article of the character described which takes advantage of the anatomy and physiology of all the parts of the body directly involved during performance on the instrument.

A further object is to produce an article of the character described in which the support does not touch the collar bone but bridges it.

A further object is to provide a structure which is completely adaptable to persons in various stages of dress and growth, as this will ordinarily require adjustability even in the same player.

A further object is to eliminate the necessity of pressure from a solid object such as the instrument or appendages against the sensitive body structure, which will cause discomfort during the performance.

A further object is to produce an article of the character described in which balance of the instrument is obtainable through the complete adjustability of all the parts of a device embodying my invention with relation to the others, including the instrument.

A still further object is to produce an article of the character described in which any desired degree of support may be obtained by the adjustment of certain of its elements, the remaining elements being left in a free or movable position.

Practical embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l represents, in perspective, a fragmentary end view of a violin showing a support constructed according to my invention attached thereto;

Fig. 2 shows the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 but detached from the instrument;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the cooperating ends of the adjustable elements;

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Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of the assembled parts;

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing a modified form of pad applied to the foot of one element; and

Fig. 6 is a detail partly broken away of a modified form of my invention, showing an adjustable arm having a foot attached thereto by a ball and socket joint.

Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective representation of the device in operative position.

Broadly, my invention comprises an adjustable support for stringed instruments which is adaptable to any human being and which will enable the player to attain the ideal position for performance as may be preferred by his school of teaching.

y As shown in the drawings, a violin body 1 is provided with the usual chin rest denoted by 2 which is clamped to said body by turnbuckles 3 and 4 fastened in a plate 5 engaging the under side of body 1.

Plate 5 clamps to the violin a tongue 7 which protrudes towards the scroll of the instrument and roughly parallel to the bottom thereof, said tongue being slotted at 6 so that it may be moved laterally or longitudinally as desired by loosening the clamping means (not shown). It will be seen that the tongue position may be completely reversed so that it extends in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

The said tongue 7 is drilled at 8 and provided with a rough or corrugated end section 9, this condition being common to both of the end faces. Outwardly extending legs 12 and 13 terminate in end faces 10, 11, of the same or similar construction to the end section 9 of tongue 7. Faces 10, 11, are drilled at 14 and 15, respectively, so that when the ends 9, 1i) and 11 are superimposed as they are intended to be, in any desired order, the holes drilled at 8, 14 and 15 will be alined vertically to accommodate a screw means 16 or other suitable fastening device. Cooperating with and fitted to said means 16 is a cap or wing nut 17 which may be tightened to maintain the desired relative position of the several elements or loosened to permit same to be swung radially into an adjusted posh tion.

Legs 12 and 13 are provided with feet 18, 19 which are provided with pads denoted generally by 2) or 21, said pads being formed of resilient or other suitable material and positioned to contact the body of the player.

The operation of my device is as follows: tongue 7 is fitted to plate 5 as shown in Fig. l, by fastening the two through means (not shown) at the desired position in slot 6. Cap 17 is then loosened and the desired relationship established between tongue 7, leg 12 and leg 13 by manually moving same. When they are in position cap 17 is tightened to maintain the status quo, including of course the position of the elements with relation to the instrument. The latter may then be raised to playing position where the chin engages the rest 2 in the usual manner, then foot 18 will contact the players body posterior to and out of contact with the collar bone, and pads 20 or 21 of foot 19 will be supported against the upper chest or pectoral muscle. Legs 12 and 13 can be bent to give the instrument the desired height and, if desited, cap 17 may be loosened to permit freedom of movement of the instrument laterally while it is being supported as to elevation.

ln the form shown in Fig. 6 the tongue is V-shaped and bored to take screws 22 and 23, threaded into internally threaded sleeves 24, which are provided at their outer ends with a ball and socket joint 25 against which the said screws operate. An arm 26 carrying the said ball terminates in another ball 27, tted into a socket 28 on a foot 29 having a pad 30. lt will be seen that this leg and its foot are universally adjustable and will take the desired position when' in use.

A support constructed according to my invention may also be furnished with sets ofV legs of various dimensions to be substituted by players of different configuration, or the bores at 14 and 1S may be `so shaped as to' give more longitudinal adjustment.

lt will be seen from the foregoing that I have invented a support capable of almost universali' adjustment which aords relatively eicrtl'ess balance with a minimum of discomfort.

Since it is evident: that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement' of the several parts Without departing from tbe spirit andscope of my invention, do not intendvtoibe limited tothes'pecic embodimentsV herein shown' and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is: Y

1. An article of the character described comprising the combination with a stringed instrument of a base plate,

an adjustable tongue aliXed-thereto,.a plurality of adjustable arcuate members mounted on said tongue and superposed at their mounted ends, said members being adjustable with respect to said tongue and to each other, tbe parts being so constructed andiarranged that tbe parts and instrument supported thereby are out of contact with the collar bone. n

2. A stringed instrument support comprising in combination a base plate, an adjustable tongue affixed thereto,

two individually adjustable arcuate legs mounted on said tongueA and superposed at their mounted ends, the superposed ends of said legs being corrugated, the other ends of said legs having at olf-set portions, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the corrugated ends interlock and the parts and instrument supported thereby are out of contact with the collar bone.

3. A stringed instrument support comprising in combination a base plate, a bendable adjustable tongue axed thereto, two individually adjustable legs mounted on said tongue at one end thereof and superposed at their mounted ends, a corrugated section on said tongue end and superposed legends, off-set' portions'on said legs, and a pad on at least one of said oi-set portions, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the corrugated ends interlock and the legs span the collar bone and support the instrument and themselves out of contact therewith.

References' Cited' in the iile of' this patent UNITED stares PATENTS 

